Batchmeter preliminary alarm



" July 8, 1930.

III

i GEE;

E. H. LICHTENBERG BATCHME'I'ER PRELIMINARY ALARM Filed July 19, 1929 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 mvs NTOR E H Lich tenh erg- ATTORNEYS Patented July 8, 1930 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 7 ERICH H. LIGHTENBERG, MILWAUKEE, WISCONSIN, ASSIGNOR TO KOEI-IRING COM- PANY, OF MILWAUKEE, WISCONSIN,A CORPORATION ,IBATOIIMETER PRELIMINARYJ'ALARM Application filed July 19,

This invention has to do with devices for regulating the mixing period of abatch of concrete'in a concrete mixing machine. Devices for accomplishing this result are known '5 as batchmeters. In the ordinary type of batchmeter, such as is described in Patent No. 1,451,483, to O. H. Winkler, the operator is a given a signal to notify him that the mixing period is terminated, so that he can then 10 raise the loading skip for supplying the mixing drum with another batch of concrete.

The construction of the above noted Patent No. 1,451,483 presents certain objectionable features. First, in thecase of use of said batchmeter with a mixing machine wherein the skip is raised manually, inasmuch as the operator ordinarily does not have his hand on the skip hoist lever during the latter part of the mixing period, there will befsome loss of time between the batchmeter signal and the engagement of the skip hoist clutch. While this time loss may amount to only. a few seconds on each batch,'it may total considerable time during a working day.

' Secondly, in the case of a mixing machine wherein the raising of the skip is automatic,

the signal indicating the termination of the mixing period is simultaneous with the engagement of the skip hoist clutch for raising the skip. This raising of the skip without warning may be dangerous if there are men working around the skip. And if there is a truck standingon the skip when the skip hoist clutch is engaged, serious damage is more than likely.

The present invention is designed to eliminate the above noted undesirable features. To these and other ends I provide a preliminary or warning signal and means for operating the same at a time prior to the final batchmeter signal, with mechanism for varying the timeinterval to meet the various exigencies incident to operation of the mixing machine. Thus, in the. case of a mixmgmachine in which the skip is raised manually, my novel preliminarysignal warns the operator that the mixing period is about to end so that he is in position to operate the skip hoist when the period is ended. 'Moreover, in a mixing machine wherein the engagement of 1929. Serial in. 379,471.

the skip hoist clutch is automatic, the function of the preliminary signal is even more important. With machines of the automatic type it is possible for the operator to disconnect certain parts from automatic operation. For example, the skip hoist clutch may be disconnected from the batchmeter. With my invention, the operator receives warning that the mixing period is almost over and the'skip hoist about to start. If men are working at or near the skip or' a truck is on the skip, or if there is, any other reason why the skip, should not be raised at the end of the mixing period, the operator can disconnect the skip hoist from automatic operation before the mixing period ends. s

In carrying out my invention, which may be applied to any type of batchmeter, I provide special mechanism connected with the operating means of a batchmeter and operable thereby to provide a warning signal prior to the completion of the mixing period of a mixing'machine. This mechanism, in contemplation of my invention, is made adjustable to vary the time interval between the warning signal and the terminationof the mixing period. It is to be understood, however, that instrumentalities entirely separate from the batchmeter operating means may be availed of for operating the warning'signal.

More particularly, I provide a signalling means comprising a bell and hammer therefor, although gongs of different pitch, lights and the like may be used for the same purpose, the hammer being in the form of a plunger which is constantly urged toward the bell by gravity, a device normally holding the plunger out of contact with the bell, timing mechanism for controlling the time of operation of the bell, and means controlled by the timing mechanism which, at a predetermined instant, releases the plunger, which thereuponfalls andstrikes the bell.

With these and other objects and advantages in view, myinventioncomprises certain other novel combinations, constructions, and arrangements of parts as will hereinafter become apparent.

For a full and more complete understanding of the invention, reference may be had l nnnary signalling skip causes shaft 5,and thereby Pivoted to the lever 10" from the resetting arm 8.

i which a main shaft ,5 isho'used cured to shaftf5 is to the following description and accompanying drawings, in which Figure 1 is an elevational view, partly in section, of my improvement applied to a batchmeter disclosed in Patent No. 1,451,483

a of H. Winkler.

Figure 2 is a view similar'to Figure 1, but on a somewhat smaller scale, showing my invention in detail and diagrammatically cer .tain of the related parts of the batchmeter to which my invention is-a'pplied;

Figure 3 is an end view of a part of the signal operating mechanism forming a part of my invention, illustrating the way in which the time of operation may-be varied.

For the purpose of illustration, preedev ice shown by t the drawingsas' applied to a batchmeter such as is disclosed in the Winkler Patent No.';1,451,-

8 ltheush it s o e ilndelistqqd tha t can be utilizedin connection with any type desirable, In the drawings, reference nu- 'meral 1 indicates a batchmeter casing? in ofbatchmeterwherein such a device islfound In this connection itwill be noted that the dog isformedwitha lateral wing 35 which is adapted to engage an adjustable abutment I such as thestem of a clamping, screw 36 which is utilized to secure a blo'ck37in an adjusted positionupon a'quadran't 38. As soon as the wing 35'engages the abutment thus provided, thedog 34 is swung outwardly and disengaged from the nose of the refsetting arm 8, thereby enabling the latter to continue inits upward movement independentlv f the escapementoperating lever which has :thnsbeen released and now starts upon its return movement. Thequadrant 38 may 7 be suitably marked, as shown at 39to indicate the proper positions for the block '37 to obtain the desired mixing period, By movinet k ck n n pen th q a ant 38 the mixing period can be increasedor idecreased, as desired, and the device can be set within proper limits for any desired mixing time, sjmay be dictated by v the character of m ter alsib ns mixed; h k nd Of W 1ng"done,or the type of'mi ing-machine in eeane t n with w ic t ebet hm ten used- As as i the. .sseer me"; Rep ating l v Rigidly see a weight 12. The escapement mecha 10 is disengaged from the resetting arm 8 it starts upon its downward movement which is governed by the escapement mechanism, and when the loading skip G is lowered the resetting arm 8 is immediately returned to its original position by the action of the spring 32. At the lowerrlimit of its move-' ment the escapement operating lever 10 engages an abutment-4O projecting from the backof the casing. The resetting arm 8 is limited in its movementsby a pair of abutments, (not shown).

Depending-from the resetting arm 8 is a hook member 48 which is formed with a cam tailpiece 44. The hook member may be pivotallyconnected to the resetting arm in any suitable manner. I In the present instance, it

is rigid with a shaft w ich extends through the resetting arm.

The control lever 49 is mounted upon a shaft 50 which extends rearwardly through the casing 1, and is'urged upwardly by the spring 54. A pawl hangs from the end of the control lever 49 which-is remote from the stud 48, said control lever being pivotally mounted between itsends, and retained in position upon the shaft 50 by means of a collar 56 which is rigidly secured to the shaft in any suitable manner. A spring 57 engages the pawl 55' and normally tends to hold the same in a yielding engagement with a fixed pin -58 which projects from the back of the casing. At the lower end of the pawl 55 is a hooked nose which is arranged for engagement with one endrof a tappetoperating lever 59, said lever being pivotally mounted be tween its endsat 60 and the other end thereof engaging a' tappet rod 61 which extends slidably through'the bottom of the casingl and is operatively associated with the mechanism of a conventional bell member 62, so

that asignal is given by sounding the bell when the tappet rod is forced downwardly by the lever and reseased. This ringing of the bell constitutesv a signal means for indieating to the attendant that the mixing period hasended and-the discharge lock been released, so thaty hecan cause the batch to be discharged fromthe mixer. The swinging movement of the tappet operating lever 59 is limited by an abutment 63 whichpro jectsfrom the bottom of thecasing. l i I When thelresetting arm8 is at the lower limit of itsmovement thelhook member 43 in engagement with the stud 48 of the control lever 49. vl/Vhen the; loading skip is swung upwardly to chargethe-rmixing drum the resetting arm is swung upwardly. The control lever 49 is then swungupon its hearing: andm ed against the action of the spring 54. .This results in lowering the pawl 55and bringing the hooked nose thereof into an operative engagement withtheen-d of the tappet operating lever 59. At the same time,

th extr mi e he pos a .lvv re'r w ich is provided with the stud 48 is brought into engagement with a locking detent 64, whereby the control lever is prevented from being returned to its original position'by the action of the spring 54 until after the locking detent 64'has been released. As soon as the control lever has thus been swung into operative position and engaged by the locking detent 64, the cam tailpiece 44 of the hook member 43 engages a fixed stud 65' projecting from the back of the casing and is there by swung laterally out of engagement with the stud 48 ofthe control lever. This enables the resetting arm to continue in its upward movement independently ofthe control lever. Upon the return or downward movement of the resetting arm 8, the hook member 43slips over the stud 48 of the control lever and re sumes its original position.

I The locking detent 64 is pivoted upon a pin 66 projecting from the back of the casing 1, and a spring 67 normally tends to urge the. same into operative position. A rearward extension 64' of the locking detent projects into the path of an adjustable abutment 68 on the escapement operating lever 10. The member 68 is in the form of a pin which has a threaded engagement with the lever 10 so that it can be adjusted in and out, and a locking nut 69 is provided for holding the pin 111 an adjusted position. The adjustment is such that when the escapement oper ating lever 10 reaches the lower limit of its movement, the pin or abutment 68 engages the rearwardextension 64 of the locking detent 64 and swings the said detent against the action of the spring 67 to disengage the nose thereof from the control lever 49; Upon being thus released the control lever is swung back to its original position by the action of the spring 54. The pawl is thereby moved upwardly and the tappet operating lever 59 operated to ring the bell. The pawl 55 is formed with a cam 70 which cooperates with a fixed stud 58 projecting from the back of the casing to swing the pawl laterally against the action of the spring 57 and disengage the hooked nose thereof from the tappet operating lever 59 after the latter has been moved a sufiicient amount. Upon being thus re leased, the tappet operating lever 9 returns to its original position in engagement with the abutment 63, its end nearest the pawl '55 being heavier than its opposite end, and

when the control lever 49 is again swung into operative position by the upward movement of the resetting arm 8, the pawl 55' is guided into operative engagement with the end ofthe tappet operating lever 59 and the parts thereby set proper position for another operation.

In the operatlonof the device, the block '37 is moved to an adjusted position upon the quadrant 38, depending upon the length of time it is desired to subject each batch of materials to the action of the mixer. The mixing period is lengthened by moving the. block upwardly upon the quadrant, and shortened by moving the block downwardly upon the quadrant. The scale 39 upon the;

quadrant enables the block to be accurately set according to the mixing time which ha been determined upon.

After the block 37 has been properly adjusted upon the quadrant 38, the mixer is charged in the usual manner by means of the loading skip. The loading skip acts to move the resetting arm 8 upwardly, and this in turn acts to swing the escapement operating lever 10 upwardly into operative position,-

ate the signal, and release the discharge chute 7 locking means.

Thus far I have described the mechanism of the batchmeter of the patent above noted. I shall now proceed with a description of the preliminary signalling device which I have designed to act in conjunction with said mechanism. i

' I accordingly provide a bracket 71 which issecured to the. casing in any suitable manner, said bracket having an upstanding noncircular guide portion 72. A plunger or hammer 7 3 of corresponding non-circular shape rides in said guide portion and said plunger is constantly urged downwardly by gravity in the direction of the bell 62 by'a heavy head 74 thereon. The head 74 has a guide 75 through which the link 76 slides, said link having heads 77, 78 to prevent said link passing through saidguide. The head 78 is loosely secured to lug 79 on the arm 8. Thus when the skipis raised, the arm 8 is raised, carrying along with it link 7 6'. When the head 77 reaches the guide 7 5, further upward movement of the link causes upward movement of the plunger'73 until the arm 8 has reached its uppermost position. The plunger 7 3 is provided with a notch 80 and the bracket 71 is provided with an opening 81. Pivotally secured to .the'bracket 71 at 82 is an arm 83 provided with a lug 84 which fits into opening 81 and "is constantly urged into said opening and into contact with the plunger 7 3 by a spring 85 which is secured to both the bracket 71 and the arm 83. The notch 80 and the nose of the lug 84 are similarly shaped and when the lug fits into said notch the plunger is prevented from downward movement but'not from upward moveabutment 68. ,One end of a member 87 :is rigidly secured to the arm 83gand said memher is curved upwardly and to theright. The upper portion of the member 87 is in the path of downward movement. of. the dog 86 and when the dog86strikes the member 87 the latter together with the arm 83 and lug 84: will be cammed to the right. Whenthe dog 86 moves'upward, the spring85brings the dog .84 back to the opening andin contact [with the plunger 73. Disposed between the v upperend of the guide-portion'72and the head 74. is a spring 88 which functions to remove the plunger 73 from contact with the bell after the bell has been struck thereby to thereby avoid dampingiof the soundj This spring88 is sufficiently weak so that it will notinterfere with the downward movement f plunger 73 as it is about to strike.

- the resettingarm 8 is raised and .The operation of thepreliminary alarm device is as follows z+When the skip is raised consequently through the medium 'ofthe link V the guide 75 the plunger 7 3 is raised. After the skip has beenraised the arm 8 returns to its original position and while returning, the plunger is permitted to slide downwardly until the wall of the notch 80 is engaged by the nose of the lug 84. Further downward movement offlarm 8 has no efiect on the .plunger'73. The lever 10 descends slowly and is governed bythe escapement mechanism in the casing. 17 as above noted. W hen the dog 86 engages the member 87, which engagement occurs afew seconds before the rearward extension 64*, is tripped by the abutment 68,-the lug 84 is withdrawn from the notch 80 and the plunger 7 3 at this point falls and strikes the bell 62. ,This, as'above ex plained, warns the operator that the mixing period is about to terminate so that by the time it does terminate, he is in a position .to immediately operate the skiphoist clutch, in the case of a manual skip hoisting device,

or to preventlmotion of the skip in the case of an automatichoisting device, to avoid any danger that might be imminentL When the escapement operating lever 10 is almost at the endof its downward travel, it operates the regular batchmeter signal, indicating the end ofthe mixing period. It may be desirpreliminary alarm and the final signal ad- "justablesouas to obtain a longer'or shorter able'to have thelength of time between the warning asmay prove desirable under the particular operating conditions. This is provided for in the possibility of adjustment ofthedog 86 as hereinabove described. It is clear from the illustrations, particularly Figure3, that with the'dog adjusted to" the position ishownjin dotted lines, the dog will engage the member 87 and consequently with- V drawlug 84 from notch 80 sooner than when i the dog is in the positionshown in full lines.

Having thus described my invention, what 76 engaging operating means associated with said mechanism for operating said signals, and means, for varying the time interval between said signals. f i

3. In a batchmeter, mechanism for timing the mixing period of a mixing machine, a signal adapted to operate .prior to the termination of said period, a signal adapted to be operated at the termination of said period,

means for operating both of said signals, and

timing instrumentalities for controlling the timp'at which the preliminary signal is operate I 4. In a batchmeter, mechanismfor timing the mixing period of a mixing machine, a signal adapted to operate'prior to the termination of said period, a signal adapted to be operated at the. termination of said period, means for operating both of said signals, and

timing instrumentalities' for controlling 'the time of operation of the'last mentioned signal.

5. In a'batchmeter, mechanism for timing the mixing period of a mixing machine, a signal adapted to operate prior tothe termination of said period, a signal adapted to be operated at the terminationof said period,

means for operating'both of said signals, and

timing instrumentalities for controlling the time of operation of said signals. 6. In a batchmeter, mechanism for timing the mixing period of a mixing machine, a signal adapted to operate prior to the termination of said period, a signal adapted tobe operated at the termination of said period, means for operating both o'f'said signals, timing instrumentalities for controlling the time at which the preliminary signal is operated, and means for varying the time interval between said signals;

7 In a batchmeter, mechanism for timing the mixing period :of a' mixing machine, a

signal adapted'to operate prior to'the termination of said period, a signal adapted to be operated at thetermination of'said perlod, means for operating both of said signals,

I timing instrumentalities for controlling. the time of operation of the last mentioned signal,

and means for varying the time interval between said signals.

8. In a batchmeter, mechanism for timing the mixing period of a mixing machine, a signal adapted to operate prior to the termimechanism for timing a mixing machine, a to operate prior eriod, a final sigt e termination of said period, means for operating said preliminary signal, instrumentalities for operating said final signal, and a timing device for controlling the time of operation of said preliminary signal.

10. In a batchmeter, mechanism for timing the mixing period of a mixing machine, a preliminary signal adapted to operate prior to the termination of said period, a final signal adapted to operate at the termination of said period, means for operating said preliminary signal, instrumentalities for operating said final signal, and a timing device for controlling the operation of said final signal.

11. In a batchmeter, mechanism for timing the mixing period of a mixing machine, a preliminary signal adapted to operate prior to the termination of said period, a final signal adapted to operate at the termination of said period, means for operating said preliminary signal, instrumentalities for operating said final signal, and a timing device for controlling the time of operation of said signals.

12. In a batchmeter, mechanism for timing the mixing period of a mixing machine, a preliminary signal adapted to operate prior to the termination of said period, a final signal adapted to operate at the termination of said period, means for operating said preliminary signal, instrumentalities for operating said final signal, and means for varying the time interval between the operation 0 the preliminary and the final signals.

13. In a batchmeter, mechanism for timing the mixing period of a mixing machine, a prelimiary signal adapted to operate prior to the termination of said period, a final signal adapted to operate at the termination of said period, means for operating said preliminary signal, instrumentalities for operating said final signal, a timing device for controlling the time of operation of said preliminary signal, and means for varying the time interval between the operation of the preliminary and the final signals.

14. In a batchmeter, mechanism for timing the mixing period of a mixing machine, a preliminary signal adapted to operate prior to the termination of said period, a final signal adapted to operate at the termination of said period, means for operating said preliminary signal, instrumentalities for operating said final signal, a timing device for controlling the operation of said final signal, and means for varying the time interval between the operation of thepreliminary and the final signals.

15. In a batchmeter, mechanism for timlng the mixing period of a mixing machine, a preliminary signal adapted to operate prior to the termination of said period, a final signal adapted to operate at the termination of said period,'means for operating said preliminarysignal, instrumentalities for operating said final signal, a timing device for controlling the time of operation of said sig nals, and means for varying the time interval between the operation of the preliminary and the final signals.

16. In a batchmeter, a signal, a tappet for operating said signal, mechanism for timing the mixing period of a mixing machine, means urging said tappet toward said signal, means normally holding said tappet out of engagement with said signal, and instrumentalities associated with said mechanism for rendering said holding means inoperative prior to the termination of the mixing period.

17. In a batchmeter, a signal, a tappet for operating said signal, mechanism for timing the mixing period of a mixing machine, means urging said tappet toward said signal, means normally holding said tappet out of engagement with said signal, instrumentalities associated with said mechanism for rendering said holding means inoperative prior to the termination of the mixing period, and means for drawing said tappet out of contact with said signal after the operation of said signal.

18. In a batchmeter, a signal, a tappet for operating said signal, mechanism for timing the mixing period of a mixing machine, means urging said tappet toward said signal, means normally holding said tappet out of engagement with said signal, and instrumentalities associated with said mechanism for rendering said holding means inoperative prior to the termination of the mixing period, and means for varying the time interval between the end of the mixing period and the operation of the signal.

- 19. In a batchmeter, a signal, a tappet for operating said signal, mechanism for timing the mixing period of a mixing machine, means urging said tappet toward said signal, means normally holding said tappet out of engagement with said signal, instrumentalities associated with said mechanism for rendering said holding means inoperative prior to the termination of the mixing period, means for drawing said tappet out of contact with said signal after the operation of said signal, and means for varying the time interval between the end of the mixing period, and the operation of said signal.

20. In a batchmeter, mechanism for timing the mixing period of a mixing machine, 

